Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-28
STRATEGY-A TRUE STORY
The Chicago Journal.

family as any in the city.
After my daughter had passed her six
teenth birthday, she rapidly developed in
to an attractive young woman. In form,
mental capacity and disposition, size
closely resembled her mother, whom 1
had married when we were poor, IN true
affection, Which, in both of us, remained
undimmed by single cloud. Surely as
looked upon them l deemed myself ex-
ceedingly favored.
Minnie (for so had named my child
was not only comely in figure, features
and intellect, but pure and amiable in
spirit, and gentle and graceful in all her
movements and expressions. With my
growing wealth had provided for her an
education commensurate with our social
position and her future, as brilliant as I
could design it, entered into all my plans.
There are errors in all lives, and just as
she was budding into wOnanhood saw
with regret that she had fallen in love.
With all the safeguards I had thrown
around her infancy and youth, had not
sufficiently taken into account the danger
to which her affections were exposed In
the circle of our acquaintance. So, nat
urally enough, she had found a congenial
spirit In George Forsyth, the son of a
Eeighboring merchant, with whose family,
in our business and social intercourse, we
had become familiar.
George was en- only son. His father, a
man of wealth. but destitute of the finer
feelings of humanity, and an adept IL all
the popular amusemeRts of the day, had
brought up his son in an inconsiderate
manner, providing him with the means of
acquiring an education without instruct
ing him in the real objects of life, but
conveying to him the idea that his heir
ship to fortune rendered it unnecessary
for him to prepare for the future by
studying for profession, or degrade
himself by learning trade. So George
grew up, not vicious young man, but
careless and deficient in all that pertains
to a successful career.
Thus trained from childhood, he could
not apply himself to business. In vain
had his father endeavored to make him
useful in the counting-room, setting be-
fore him the examples of men whose pros
perity had flowed directly from their ap-
plication and industry. Thus it was at
20 Aears of age, George Forsyth, with fair
capabilities, gentlemanly manners and
handsome features, was unable to earn
competency, and lived upon his fathers
bounty.
Much as a. nIred him for his personal
appearance and social qualities, the
thought that my daughter would be in
duced to marry him, despite my wishes
and those of her mother, gave me pain,
and felt that [ could never give my con
sent to the union.
Iyknew, also, that while my daughter
wasl amiable, she possessed womanly
strength and courage that only needed
a,atagonism to arouse them In connection
With the fervor of her affection for any
object, and that to manifest open OPP
position or impatience would serve only
to bring on a crisis, create scene, or
cause an e'opement which L certainly
wished to prevent. The alternative was
to say nothing of my discontinue to ang
one and pursue course that presented
itself to my mind, by which [ hoped to
avert the evil that threatened our domes-
tic peace.
Calling George aside, one day, asked
him if he had any objection to collect a
number of bills then due ard unpaid which
held against parties in the city, naming
for his compensation liberal commits
sion upon the amounts that might be
realized through his exortions. [ made
this offer in a manner calculated to in
crease his self-esteem, and succeeded in
securing his consent.
The bills which 1 selected for him were
of three classes: A few I rated as "good,"
for knew they would be paid upon pre-
sentation; others were doubtful" for
the parties were "slow" and full of excus-
es when dunned; while the third class
ranked mot good" for, although the
bills were of longstaDding, the parties
were impecunious or fraudulent. / did
not, however, classify them thus to
George, designing that he should work
out the problem that he had in hand by
his own untrameled methods.
Weeks passed. and although I saw him
occasionally, he neither paid in any
money nor reported progress in his un-
dertaking. Once or twice he voluntarily
remarked that he was latter those fell
lows" and / merely rep lied with slight
reference to increased di ligence.
In the meantime knew that he and my
daughter were still lovers. had said
nothing to her of my employment of
George as collector, but [ was certain
that he had told her of it. So, calling
her to my side, one evening, 1 said:
Minnie am going to New York and
other eastern cities on business. Your
mother will accompany me and you will
be left, the servants and the house will be
left In your charge for several weeks. l
know that you will manage all our affairs
olscreetly, and have so arranged matters
with sup ply men that you will not find
your duties burdensome. Your mother
VIII give you all necessary instructions
before we go, as we shalt, on Monday
morning next. There is one thing, how
ever-a business matter of my own
which | wish to intrust to your especial
supervision. l have handed to George
Forsyth, for collection, sundry bills a.
gainst my customers in the city. amour
ting to about 81 500, and have instruct
ed him to pay over any money that he
may receive to you. You will give your
receipts for it, and when l return will
settle with him for his trouble.''
Minnie heard me patiently, and with an
air that interpreted into determine
ton to carry out my wishes, in every re-
spect; and 1 knew that my confidence in